Category: Genres

  • Bard SummerScape Presents Black Roots Summer

    Bard SummerScape celebrates the uplifting spirit of Black music with Black Roots Summer, presented in association with Electric Root and organized and led by the rousing vocalist, bandleader, cultural commentator, and anti-racism educator Michael Mwenso and his longtime collaborator Jono Gasparro, former curator of Ginny’s Supper Club in Harlem.

    Black Roots Summer

    An outdoor stage at Bard’s Montgomery Place campus on the Hudson River, the Sierra Leone-born, London-raised, NYC-based Mwenso are where the concerts will be held for two weekends (July 23 & 24 and July 29-31) Even more, there will be a predominantly BIPOC lineup of more than 20 artists, singers, musicians, and dancers will premiere three original concerts.

    Artists collaborating in Black Roots Summer include curators Michael Mwenso and Jono Gasparro; music directors Chris Pattishall and Mathis Picard; choreographer Naila Ansari; directors Shariffa Aliand Kamilah Long; vocalists Brianna Thomas, Charenee Wade, Vuyo Sotashe, and Zhanna Reed; musicians Jalen Baker, Jason Clotter, Giveton Gelin, Dom Gervais, Julian Lee, Alexis Lombre, TJ Reddick, Chris Smith and more; and dancers Elijah Person and Netanya Thomas.

    Black Roots Summer

    Mwenso explains that the concert series in the midst of the pandemic, and in response to the murder of George Floyd, they realized, “Now is the time to push the doors down.” Electric Root was established and set out to collaborate with universities and presenting institutions in order to

    “revolutionize how Black music is presented, expose lesser-known artists, decolonize music curriculum, provide artist-led anti-racism training, and heal people.” 

    All tickets go on sale on June 2. The box office can be reached by telephone at (845) 758-7900, on Mondays through Fridays at 11am–4pm EST, or by email at boxoffice@bard.edu. Tickets are also available 24/7 on Bard’s website at fishercenter.bard.edu.

    All SummerScape productions will be presented in adherence with strict COVID protocols. Learn more about SummerScape 2021 health and safety protocols here.

  • Modest Mouse hit the road this Summer, stopping in Cooperstown and Brooklyn

    Modest Mouse announced their return earlier this month with two new singles off their forthcoming album and an extensive US tour. The tour includes an August 7 show at Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown, and two stops at Brooklyn Steel on August 11 and 12. Tickets for the tour go on sale Wednesday, May 26 at 10 am local time. 

    Modest Mouse -- Credit James Joiner

    Newly released is “Leave a Light On,” the second single off their anxiously awaited seventh full-length, The Golden Casket, out June 25 via Epic Records. The song finds Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock navigating the existential threat of losing our humanity – and the interconnectedness that comes with it – amidst a constant societal barrage of physical and digital materialism.  “Leave A Light On” can be listened to here.

    Earlier this month, the band shared the first single “We Are Between.” The song explores the faults that make up each person’s character as it pertains to the wider world. With a hook that will get stuck in your head all day, the band made a great first single choice. “We Are Between” can be listened to here.

    Over the past 25 years, Brock has served as indie rock’s resident backwoods philosopher, pondering his infinitesimal place in the world at large and seeking balance in a universe governed by polar opposites. On Modest Mouse’s earliest records, he was surveying the changes in the world’s physical landscape from the windows of the tour van, lamenting the displacement of natural beauty with big-box blights.

    The band’s seventh studio album, The Golden Casket, heralds another new chapter in the band’s unpredictable evolution. The album explores the degradation of America’s psychic landscape through the glass of the smartphone screen and invisible technology. Brock also touches on a new theme in his life, fatherhood. 

    Produced with Dave Sardy and Jacknife Lee in Los Angeles and in Modest Mouse’s studio in Portland, the album hovers in the liminal space between raw punk power and experimental studio science. Pre-order/Pre-save The Golden Casket here.

    Brewery Ommegang is located on a 136-acre farmstead in Cooperstown, New York and offers tours, tastings, a 100-seat café, a well-stocked brewery store, and a calendar of public events including a summer concert series and a legendary beer festival, Belgium Comes to Cooperstown. For more information visit www.ommegang.com. To stay up to date follow Brewery Ommehang’s Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

    DSP Shows Presents: Modest Mouse Saturday, August 7, 2021 7:00pm (5:00pm doors). Tickets and a limited number of camping passes go on sale Wednesday, May 26 at 10am and will be available at dspshows.com. To stay up to date follow DSP’s Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

    To find out more information visit Modest Mouse’s website. To stay up to date follow them on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

    Modest Mouse 2021 Tour Dates:

    07/29 – 08/1 – Chicago, IL – Grant Park – Lollapalooza Music Festival

    07/30 – Madison, WI – The Sylvee

    08/03 – Columbus, OH – EXPRESS LIVE! – Indoor Music Hall

    08/05 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met Philadelphia

    08/06 – Boston, MA – Leader Bank Pavilion

    08/07 – Cooperstown, NY – Brewery Ommegang

    08/09 – New Haven, CT – College Street Music Hall

    08/11 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Steel

    08/12 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Steel

    08/17 – Washington, DC – The Anthem

    08/18 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE

    08/20 – Detroit, MI – Meadow Brook Amphitheatre

    08/21 – Milwaukee, WI – Riverside Theater

    08/22 – Minneapolis, MN – Armory

    08/24 – Missoula, MT – KettleHouse Amphitheater

    08/27 – Portland, OR – McMenamins – Edgefield

    08/29 – Bend, OR – Les Schwab Amphitheater

    09/11 – Seattle, WA – Marymoor Park *

    09/16 – San Francisco, CA – The Masonic

    09/18 – Las Vegas, NV – Life Is Beautiful Festival

    09/19 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Federal Theatre

    09/20 – Tucson, AZ – Rialto Theatre – Tucson

    09/22 – San Diego, CA – Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre

    09/24 – Pioneertown, CA – Pappy and Harriet’s

    09/25 – Los Angeles, CA – The Theatre at Ace Hotel

    09/27 – Sandy, UT – Sandy City Amphitheater

    09/28 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre *

    09/30 – Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom *

    10/01-10/03 – Austin, TX – Austin City Limits

    10/04 – Nashville, TN – Ascend Amphitheater *

    10/05 – Cincinnati, OH – Andrew J Brady ICON Music Center *

    10/08-10/10 – Austin, TX – Austin City Limits

    10/11 – Huntsville, AL – Mars Music Hall

    10/12 – New Orleans, LA – Fillmore New Orleans

    10/14 – Orlando, FL – Hard Rock Live

    10/15 – Miami Beach, FL – Fillmore Miami Beach

    10/16 – St. Petersburg, FL – Jannus Live

    10/17 – St. Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheatre

    10/19 – Richmond, VA – The National

    10/21 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater

    10/22 – Asheville, NC – Rabbit Rabbit

    *with Future Islands

  • 2021 New York State Blues Fest Kicks Off Thursday June 24

    The Northeast’s largest free blues festival, NYS Blues Fest, has announced its comeback with a new location and a lineup that will bring Central New York to its feet. This year’s New York State Blues Festival will be held at Chevy Court inside the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, and will run from June 24 through June 26.

    NYS Blues Fest

    The free three-day event kicks off on Thursday, June 24 at 5 p.m. on the ProAct Main Stage with the Gabe Stillman Band. Capping off the first night will be Robert Randolph & the Family Band, who is celebrating their Grammy nominated 2019 release, Brighter Days.

    On Friday, June 25, the headliner is musically-diverse The Fabulous Thunderbirds, known for their hits “Tuff Enuff” and “Wrap It Up.

    Larkin Poe closes out the 2021 NYS Blues Festival on Saturday, June 26. This talented sister act was the Thursday night headliner for the fest in 2018.

    Larkin Poe performing “Black Echo” at the 2018 NYS Blues Fest

    Moving the festival from Clinton Square to the NYS Fairgrounds allows for greater capacity with vaccinated and unvaccinated sections. A COVID-19 vaccination will not be required to attend this event, but proof of a vaccination must be shown upon entry to the festival grounds.

    Non-vaccinated attendees are required to register for a free ticket, available on EventBrite. Alongside the ticket, non-vaccinated attendees will be required to wear a mask and practice social distancing as per New York State reopening guidelines.

    The NYS Blues Fest is offering a VIP package for vaccinated attendees. The package will include a boxed meal from one of the festival vendors, access to the VIP tent and preferred seating in front of the stage. VIP ticket prices can be found on the NYS Blues ticket portal.

    Parking will be available in the fairgrounds’ Brown Lot for $10 per vehicle and motorcycles can park in a designated area of the lot at $5 per bike. ADA parking will be available in the Emerald Lot for $10 as well.

    NYS Blues Fest

    Visit the New York State Blues Fest website for full artist bios and ticket information.

    Check out the full schedule below:

    Thursday, June 24  

    5 p.m. Gabe Stillman Band 

    7 p.m. – Robert Randolph & the Family Band

    Friday, June 25

    4 p.m. – Hot Dogs & Gin

    5 p.m. – Jane Zell and The Zelltones

    6 p.m. – Ray Fuller & the Bluesrockers

    7:10 p.m. – Chris Merkley 

    7:30 p.m. – Vanessa Collier Band

    8:40 p.m. – Chris Merkley

    9 p.m. – Fabulous Thunderbirds 

    Saturday, June 26 

    1:30 p.m. – Ryan Holweger

    2 p.m. – Diana Jacobs Blues Band 

    2:45 p.m. – Ryan Holweger

    3:05 p.m. – Miller and The Other Sinners 

    4:10 p.m. – Mark Nanni 

    4:30 p.m. – The Ripcords

    5:40 p.m. – Mark Nanni

    6 p.m. – Ghost Town Blues Band

    7:10 p.m. – Colin Aberdeen & Max Eyle

    7:30 p.m. – Carolyn Wonderland 

    8:40 p.m. – Colin Aberdeen & Max Eyle 

    9 p.m. – Larkin Poe

  • Willie Nelson brings The Outlaw Music Festival Tour to SPAC this Fall

    Willie Nelson is “on the road again” as he has just announced The Outlaw Music Festival Tour starting this summer. The 14-stop tour will include a show at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), after kicking off in Texas in August, with Willie Nelson planning to have many friends and family accompanying him at each stop. 

    Willie Nelson SPAC
    Willie Nelson

    The performance in Saratoga Springs will include Sturgill Simpson, Gov’t Mule, and Margo Price. Although it will be near the end of the summer and practically fall when the performance happens there is no excuse not to go. With a legend such as Willie Nelson getting out on tour and nonetheless performing in Saratoga, any music fan’s mind would be itching at the thought to make it a weekend trip filled with peace, love and a whole lot of Willie Nelson. SPAC poses as the perfect place to go with COVID-19 ending as music venues are opening back up and there’s always plenty to do and see in Saratoga Springs, in addition to the great music and musicians that will be coming its way.

    willie nelson SPAC

    The stop in Saratoga Spring will be on September 12, 2021 at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Tickets for the event can be purchased on the venue website starting Tuesday, May 25th at 10:00 a.m.

    On your way to SPAC, don’t forget that Stewart’s Shops is your ice cream shop! With over 345 shops in 31 counties across New York and southern Vermont, the convenience store chain is known for their fresh &local dairy products. With dozens of choices at the cone counter, you’re bound to find something you love! Try a shake, sundae, or cone today,  What’s Your Flavor?  

    Sunday, August 22, 2021-Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheatre  -Willie Nelson & Family, Chris Stapleton, Ryan Bingham,Yola


    Friday, September 10, 2021-Gilford, NH – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion – Willie Nelson & Family, Sturgill Simpson, Gov’t Mule, Margo Price


    Saturday, September 11, 2021-Philadelphia, PA – TD Pavilion at the Mann – Willie Nelson & Family, Sturgill Simpson, Gov’t Mule, Margo Price

    Sunday, September 12, 2021-Saratoga, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) – Willie Nelson & Family, Sturgill Simpson, Gov’t Mule, Margo Price


    Friday, September 17, 2021-Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheatre – Willie Nelson & Family, Sturgill Simpson, Gov’t Mule, Margo Price

    Saturday, September 18, 2021-Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek – Willie Nelson & Family, Sturgill Simpson, Gov’t Mule, Margo Price

    Sunday, September 19, 2021-Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion – Willie Nelson & Family, Sturgill Simpson, Gov’t Mule, Margo Price

    Wednesday, September 22, 2021-Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre – Willie Nelson & Family, Sturgill Simpson, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Kathleen Edwards

    Friday, September 24, 2021-Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion – Willie Nelson & Family, Sturgill Simpson, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Gov’t Mule, Kathleen Edwards

    Friday, October 15, 2021-Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion – Willie Nelson & Family, The Avett Brothers, Gov’t Mule, Lucinda Williams, Ida Mae

    Saturday, October 16, 2021-Irvine, CA – Five Point Amphitheatre – Willie Nelson & Family, The Avett Brothers, Gov’t Mule, Lucinda Williams, Ida Mae

    Sunday, October 17, 2021-San Diego, CA – Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre – Willie Nelson & Family, The Avett Brothers, Ida Mae

    Saturday, October 23, 2021-Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre – Willie Nelson & Family, The Avett Brothers, Gov’t Mule, Lucinda Williams, Ida Mae

    Sunday, October 24, 2021-Wheatland, CA – Toyota, Amphitheatre – Willie Nelson & Family, The Avett Brothers, Gov’t Mule, Lucinda Williams, Ida Mae

  • Yasgur’s May Meltdown Music Festival Features PEAK, The New Motif

    Yasgur Road in Bethel will open its first festival of the 2021 season with Yasgur’s May Meltdown over Memorial Day Weekend. With more than 30 bands on the lineup, including headliners The New Motif and PEAK, the festival takes place at Max Yasgur’s former 103-acre homestead in Bethel, NY.

    Yasgur's May Meltdown

    Yasgur Road hosts multiple shows each year, including their annual Woodstock Reunion. The venue keeps vending affordable but encourages bringing your own supplies for the weekend (no glass, please). Bathrooms, showers, campfires, and camping near the stage are just some of the amenities of the festival grounds, as well as onsite parking close by.  Free craft vending is allowed with purchase of a weekend pass. Dog passes are also available.

    Truly the home of the spirit of Woodstock, the most famous music festival in history, Yasgur Road is less than 3 miles from Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. Max Yasgur’s former homestead is now dedicated to the music festival industry, offering quality entertainment and camping in a natural wooded setting.  

    yasgur's may meltdown

    The New Motif, an ever-evolving eclectic jam funk band originally formed on Cape Cod, MA perform music infused with deep psychedelic grooves and dynamic improvisation. Joining them as headliners are PEAK, a Brooklyn-based group full of psychedelic Indie fun with a mix of poetic, melodic songwriting, moody electrofunk, riffed-out blues-rock, and exploratory danceable improvisations.

    For more information regarding May Meltdown, or any of Yasgur Road’s festivals and events, visit Yasgurroadreunion.com or their Facebook page. Order tickets here and stay up to date with the Facebook event.

    Yasgur’s May Meltdown 2021 Lineup

    The New Motif, Peak, Spunday Mourning, Dee Maple Band, Mysterytrain, Hanna’s Field, Lunch Trucks, Gypsy Funk Squad, Moon Matrix of the Lizard People, Jerry Duty, Mutt Farm, The Hobo Style, Jason Gisser Band, PoW WoW, Robert Tellefsen, Alec Philips, Crispy Crunch, Buffy & the Boys, and many more!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yz_0UN4ACU
  • Des Rocs Announce Headline Tour, Making a Stop at Bowery Ballroom

    New York City native Des Rocs has announced his first headline tour, Des Rocs Alive, consisting of more than 20 shows and kicking off on September 23 at Firefly Music Festival. The tour concludes on November 4 with a hometown show at the Bowery Ballroom in Manhattan. 

    Des Rocs Tour
    Graphic from “This is our Life” Music Video

    The tour will make stops at iconic venues around the country like Los Angeles’ The Troubadour, Minneapolis’ The Turf Club and Austin, TX’s Antone’s Nightclub. Des Rocs will also make stops at the Firefly Festival and the sold-out Aftershock Fest. 

    Des Rocs is a fourth-generation New Yorker as well as a rock-and-roll musician. He’s shared stages with The Rolling Stones, Muse, K Flay, Fall Out Boy, Weezer and Grandson. 

    “I feel like I was put on this earth to play shows,” Des Rocs said. “Since I was 13, I’ve played my guitar in basements and dive bars to anyone who’d listen.”

    Des Rocs has released three EPs to date, including Let the Vultures In, Martyr Parade, and This Is Our Life, released in December 2020. The album’s title track hit top 20 at Active Rock radio and top 40 at Alternative radio. Fans can expect new music to be released later this year. 

    Des Rocs’ song “POS” from his album This is Our Life

    “This tour is a lifetime in the making,” Des Rocs said. “I can’t wait to finally put all these songs on a stage after dreaming about it for a year in isolation.”

    Tickets go on sale May 21, and can be purchased on Des Rocs’ website.

    Des Rocs 2021 Tour Dates:

    September 23-26 – Dover, DE @ Firefly Music Festival

    September 28 – Detroit, MI @ El Club

    September 30 – Columbus, OH @ The Basement

    October 1 – Chicago, IL @ Beat Kitchen

    October 2 – St. Paul, MI @ Turf Club

    October 5 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge

    October 8 – Sacramento, CA @ Aftershock Festival

    October 10 – Seattle, WA @ Sunset Tavern

    October 11 – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios

    October 13 – San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop

    October 14 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Troubadour

    October 16 – San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar

    October 19 – Austin, TX @ Antone’s

    October 20 – Dallas, TX @ Three Links

    October 21 – Houston, TX @ The Secret Group

    October 23 – Nashville, TN @ The End

    October 25 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle Backroom

    October 26 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Elevation 27

    October 27 – Washington, DC @ Songbyrd

    November 2 – Boston, MA @ The Middle East (upstairs)

    November 4 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom

    Des Rocs Tour
  • Lollapalooza and Pitchfork serve up mammoth Festival Lineups

    The Windy City will see the return of Pitchfork Music Festival and Lollapalooza for engagements this summer. Grant Park will host Lollapalooza July 29-August 1, while Pitchfork Music Festival will return to the friendly confines of Union Park over September 10-12.

    CHICAGO, IL – JULY 31: Recording artist Flume performs on the Samsung Stage at Lollapalooza 2016 – Day 4 at Grant Park on July 31, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for Samsung)

    Lollapalooza celebrates its 30th year as a world-class festival in 2021, and has been known since inception for its multi-genre, diverse lineups. More than 165 bands will perform on eight stages over four full days of music July 29-August 1 in Chicago’s crown jewel, Grant Park.  4-Day Tickets are on sale now at lollapalooza.com.

    The all-star lineup for Lollapalooza includes Foo Fighters, Post Malone, Tyler, The Creator, Miley Cyrus, DaBaby, Marshmello, Illenium, Journey, Megan Thee Stallion, Roddy Ricch, Young Thug, Alison Wonderland, Brittany Howard, LAUV, Kim Petras, Omar Apollo, Ashe, LP, Jacob Banks, Olivia O’Brien, Princess Nokia, Trevor Daniel, and more.

    lollapalooza pitchfork

    Launched by founder Perry Farrell in 1991 as a touring festival, Lollapalooza remains an innovator in festival culture over 25 years later. Lollapalooza was the first festival to bring together artists from a wide range of musical genres on one bill, it was also the first to travel, the first to expand to multiple days, the first to introduce a second stage, the first to blend art and activism, the first to offset its carbon emissions, the first to put electronic music artists on the main stage, the first to create family friendly programming, the first to make its home in an urban city center and the first to expand internationally.

    lollapalooza pitchfork

    In accordance with current local public health guidance, full COVID-19 vaccination or negative COVID-19 test results will be required to attend Lollapalooza 2021. For patrons who are not fully vaccinated, a negative COVID-19 test result must be obtained within 24 hours of attending Lollapalooza each day.  Details on the festival entry process will be available in early July. Lollapalooza is excited to partner with the City of Chicago to encourage vaccination in Chicago in the weeks prior to the festival. If you have questions about COVID-19 vaccines or to find a vaccination location near you, please visit www.vaccinefinder.org.

    lollapalooza pitchfork

    For 15 years, the Pitchfork Music Festival has delivered an eclectic musical lineup, singular in its ability to place contemporary, cutting-edge acts alongside some of the most revered artists of our time. It’s this unique blend of discovery and tradition that makes the Pitchfork Music Festival stand out as one of the most celebrated weekends of the year.

    Pitchfork Music Festival opens on Friday, September 10 with Phoebe Bridgers, Big Thief, Animal Collective, Yaeji, The Fiery Furnaces (their first show in over a decade), black midi, Hop Along, Kelly Lee Owens, Ela Minus, DEHD, The Soft Pink Truth, DJ Nate, Dogleg, and Armand Hammer.
     
    Saturday features St. Vincent, Angel Olsen, Kim Gordon, Ty Segall & Freedom Band, Waxahatchee, Jay Electronica, Jamila Woods, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Faye Webster, Amaarae, Maxo Kream, Divino Niño, Bartees Strange, and Horsegirl.
     
    On Sunday, the festival hosts Erykah Badu, Flying Lotus, Thundercat, Danny Brown, Cat Power, Andy Shauf, Caroline Polachek, Yves Tumor, The Weather Station, Mariah the Scientist, oso oso, KeiyaA, Special Interest, and Cassandra Jenkins.

    lollapalooza pitchfork

    Pitchfork Music Festival tickets are now on sale here. Three-day passes are $195 and single-day passes are $90. The Pitchfork PLUS upgrade, including a range of exclusive amenities, is $385 for a three-day pass and $185 for a single-day pass. If the festival is postponed or rescheduled due to COVID-19, ticket buyers can keep their passes for the new dates or request a refund. More details are available here.
     
    To ensure the health and safety of guests, artists, and staff, the Pitchfork Music Festival will adhere to the city of Chicago’s COVID-19 protocol, and will keep attendees updated as federal, state, and local regulations evolve.

  • Lil Nas X closes out Season 46 of Saturday Night Live, works through Wardrobe Malfunction

    Closing out Season 46 of Saturday Night Light, musical guest Lil Nas X worked through a wardrobe malfunction as The Queen’s Gambit star Anya Taylor-Joy hosted flawlessly on an emotional finale.

    The episode began with a full cast cold open looking back on the ups and downs of the past year, including an appearance by the host of the first episode of the season, Chris Rock. This also marked the first time all season that SNL had full (and vaccinated) in-studio audience.

    Just over a week before the start of Pride month, Nas appeared in a pre-recorded take on Madonna’s “Holiday” with Kate McKinnon, Bowen Yang and Punkie Johnson all looking forward to all things Pride – parades, brunch, clubs, drama – that were missed due to COVID-19 in 2020.

    For his first song, Lil Nas X performed “Montero (Call me by your Name),” the music video for which he received criticism from the religious right for twerking with Satan. On the stage in Studio 8H, Lil Nas X used a stripper pole while flanked by dancers, and with 30 seconds left in the song, split his pants. Seamlessly, Lil Nas X continued to perform with his hand covering his crotch, ending with a striking image of himself with giant wings projected behind him. He didn’t let on about the malfunction until a Tweet a few minutes later.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbqLa4uOzo0&list=PLS_gQd8UB-hLztNRXrYkXPGjteSBmXsv5&index=3

    The second performance of the night featured the just released track “Sun Goes Down.” The more vulnerable turn finds Lil Nas X wearing a white suit and reflecting on the suicidal thoughts he had while growing up gay and in the closet. With lyrics “Since ten, I’ve been feelin’ lonely / Had friends but they was pickin’ on me / these gay thoughts would always haunt me / I prayed God would take it from me,” “Sun Goes Down” elaborates on why he was so bold about trolling conservatives with more vulnerability than we’ve seen yet.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXJDDoW0U3Y&list=PLS_gQd8UB-hLztNRXrYkXPGjteSBmXsv5&index=13

    That’s all for Season 46 of Saturday Night Live. Stay tuned for Season 47 starting in September/October 2021. What was your favorite musical guest of the season? Share in the comments below.

  • Vision Festival 25 returns to NYC in July

    Vision Festival 25:  Breaking Free, Coming Home will display hundreds of artists of various disciplines—free jazz, poetry, visual arts, conversations— as one of the first in-person music festivals to return to New York City.

    The Arts for Art sponsored event will take place over seven nights, July 22-23 and 29-30 at Pioneer Works in Brooklyn, and July 24-25 and 31 at The Clemente in the Lower East Side, and all events will be in-person, outdoors and livestreamed. 

    Vision Festival Banner

    In 1996 the First Annual Vision Festival took place to bring together luminaries from different avant-garde music scenes and to celebrate the important African American leaders of the music. That first Vision Festival was unique in its multi-arts focus featuring poets in collaboration with the music. Each year since the Vision Festival has brought attention to issues of social justice by curating panel discussions, such as “Decolonizing the Music: Reclaiming the Power of Creative Music in Communities of Color” and “How Funding Affects Creative Choices.”  

    In-person, outdoors and livestream performances will feature William Parker, Amina Claudine Myers Lifetime Achievement, Elder Ones, Jaimie Branch, Fay Victor, Nicole Mitchell, James Blood Ulmer, David Murray, Cooper-moore, James Brandon Lewis, A Tribute To Milford Graves W/ John Zorn, Andrew Cyrille, and many more. Additional programming will be announced in the coming weeks. 

    Pianist, vocalist, poet, and actor Amina Claudine Myers will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award on July 23. Arts For Art will acknowledge Myers work including her achievements as a pianist, organist, composer, and singer. Her mentoring of many young musicians around the globe, especially women, for which she has been a shining and all too rare example. She is an extraordinary artist who has added so much to the important tradition of African American extended musical forms. 

    Myers is a founding member of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (A.A.C.M.). She has recorded 11 albums under her leadership. Her recording career combines her gospel and blues inspirations with an improviser’s freedom and includes classic albums like The Circle of Time, Amina Claudine Myers Salutes Bessie Smith and her latest solo piano and voice effort Sama Rou (Songs From My Soul).

    As live shows become safer, we’ll gather and share our creative visions to make space for a more compassionate world. Vision’s message this year is about coming home to our strong self.  Our home is within. The past year gave us time to listen to ourselves and now we are home.

    Arts for Art founder, Patricia Nicholson Parker

    ARTS FOR ART PRESENTS

    VISION FESTIVAL 25:  BREAKING FREE, COMING HOME

    JULY 22-31 in NYC

    JULY 22-23, 29-30 @ PIONEER WORKS, BROOKLYN

    JULY 24-25 & 31 @ THE CLEMENTE, LOWER EAST SIDE

    VISION FESTIVAL 25 PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE 

    THURS, JULY 22 @ PIONEER WORKS 

    159 Pioneer Street, Brooklyn

    6:00pm Opening Healing Ceremony: William Parker – bass / Patricia Nicholson Parker – text, movement / Jean Carla Rodea – voice / Michael T.A. Thompson – drums

    7:00pm Music for a Free World Septet: Dave Sewelson – baritone sax / Aquiles Navarro – trumpet / Steve Swell – trombone / Dave Hofstra – tuba / Ava Mendoza – guitar / William Parker – bass / Marvin “Bugalu” Smith – drums

    8:00pm Cooper-Moore Solo: Cooper-Moore – piano

    8:45pm Dave Burrell & Darius Jones Duo: Dave Burrell – piano / Darius Jones – alto saxophone

    9:45pm Matthew Shipp String Trio: Matthew Shipp – piano / Mat Maneri – viola / William Parker – bass

    FRI, JULY 23 @ PIONEER WORKS 

    Amina Claudine Myers Lifetime of Achievement Celebration

    6:30pm The Amina Claudine Myers Voice Octet 

    7:30pm Poet Tyehimba Jess

    8:00pm  Generation IV: Amina Claudine Myers – voice, piano / Richarda Abrams – voice / Pyeng Threadgill – voice / Luna Threadgill-Moderbacher – voice 

    9:00pm Reflections: A Portrait of Amina Claudine Myers – Documentary film by Moon Lasso, produced by Arts for Art

    9:30pm The Amina Claudine Myers Trio: Amina Claudine Myers – piano, Hammond B3 / Jerome Harris – bass Reggie Nicholson – drums

    SAT, JULY 24 @ THE CLEMENTE, LA PLAZA OUTDOORS

    107 Suffolk St, New York

    5:00pm Creative Vision Youth Ensemble

    6:00pm Composers Workshop Ensemble: Warren Smith – drums, percussion / Rod Williams – piano / Larry Roland – bass, poetry / James Zollar – trumpet / Patience Higgins – tenor sax / Don Slatoff – baritone sax / Lloyd Haber – drums, percussion

    7:00pm ElectroFLUTTER: Fay Victor – voice, compositions / Nicole Mitchell – flute / Jamaaladeen Tacuma – bass guitar

    8:00pm Morris / Smith Tracie Morris – poetry / Cecilia Smith – vibes

    8:30pm Joe Morris & Tomas Fujiwara: Joe Morris – guitar / Tomas Fujiwara – drums

    9:30pm Tony Malaby’s Sabino Quartet: Tony Malaby – tenor, soprano saxophones / Ben Monder – guitar / Michael Formanek – bass / Tom Rainey – drums

    SUN, JULY 25 @ THE CLEMENTE, LA PLAZA OUTDOORS

    107 Suffolk St, New York

    6:00pm Whit Dickey Trio: Whit Dickey – drums / Rob Brown – alto saxophone / Mat Maneri – viola 

    7:00pm Pheeroan akLaff  Liberation Unit: Pheeroan akLaff – drums / Adegoke Steve Colson – piano / Michael Gregory Jackson – guitar 

    8:00pm Raymond Nat Turner: Raymond Nat Turner – poetry 

    9:00pm Third Landing: Ava Mendoza – guitar / Alexis Marcelo – keyboards / Luke Stewart- bass / Devin Brahja Waldman – horns / Ches Smith – drums / Abiodun Oyewole – spoken word

    9:30pm James Blood Ulmer ODYSSEY: James Blood Ulmer – guitar / Charles Burnham – violin / Warren Benbow – drums

    THURS, JULY 29 @ PIONEER WORKS 

    159 Pioneer Street, Brooklyn

    6:00pm Elder Ones: Amirtha Kidambi – voice, harmonium, synthesizer / Matt Nelson – soprano saxophone, effects / Eva Lawitts – bass, effects / Max Jaffe – drums, sensory percussion

    7:00pm James Brandon Lewis Quartet: James Brandon Lewis – tenor saxophone / Aruán Ortiz – piano / Brad Jones – bass / Chad Taylor – drums

    8:00pm Julie Ezelle Patton Rock Paper Twister: Julie Ezelle Patton – poetry / Janice Lowe – piano / Paul Van Curen – guitar / William Parker – bass / Nasheet Waits – drums / Special Guest – Vinie Burrows

    8:45pm Mara Rosenbloom Presents Flyways: Mara Rosenbloom – piano / Anaïs Maviel – voice, surdo / Rashaan Carter – bass

    9:45pm Trio 3 + Special Guest: Oliver Lake – alto saxophone / Reggie Workman – bass / Andrew Cyrille – drums + Special Guest – piano

    FRI, JULY 30 @ PIONEER WORKS

    159 Pioneer Street, Brooklyn 

    6:00pm Brandon Lopez Trio: Brandon Lopez – bass / Gerald Cleaver – drums / Steve Baczkowski – woodwinds

    7:00pm Ingrid Laubrock’s Monochromes: Jon Irabagon – saxophones / Ingrid Laubrock – saxophones / Zeena Parkins – harp / Tom Rainey – drums / performing with pre-recorded tapes

    8:00pm fly or die: jaimie branch – trumpet, voice, percussion / Lester St. Louis – cello, voice, percussion / Jason Ajemian- bass / Chad Taylor – drums, mbira, voice

    9:00pm Moten / Lopez / Cleaver: Fred Moten – poetry / Brandon Lopez – bass / Gerald Cleaver – drums

    9:30pm David Murray Octet Revival: David Murray – tenor sax, compositions / Lakecia Benjamin – alto sax / Terry Greene II – trombone / Josh Evans – trumpet / Mingus Murray – guitar / David Bryant – piano / Dezron Douglas – bass / Russell Carter – drums

    SAT, JULY 31 @ THE CLEMENTE, LA PLAZA OUTDOORS

    Tribute to Milford Graves

    6:00pm Andrew Cyrille: Andrew Cyrille – drum set

    7:00pm Joe McPhee Octet Tribute to Milford Graves: Warren Smith – vibes / Jay Rosen – drums/ Brandon Lopez, Michael Bisio– bass / James Keepnews – guitar / Jason Kao Hwang, Rosie Hertlein – violin / Joseph McPhee – reeds, brass

    8:00pm Shahzad Ismaily: Shahzad Ismaily – multiple instruments

    8:15pm John Zorn: John Zorn – alto saxophone

    8:30pm Tribute to Milford Graves: William Parker – bass / Lee Mixashawn Rozie – woodwinds / D.D. Jackson – piano / William Hooker – drums / Francisco Mela – drums9:30pm Drum, Horn, and Dance Tribute to Milford Graves

    In Person Tickets: Daily $65 | Full Pass $300 | VIP Pass $750

    Streaming Tickets: Daily $15 | Full Pass $75 

    More information about Vision Festival 25 can be found on the Arts For Art website. Tickets are available now at Eventbrite.

  • May installment of Dinner and a Movie to benefit Groovesafe

    For the May installment of Phish’s Dinner and a Movie archival stream series, they’ll go all the way back to Summer 1993 for a performance from Great Woods in Mansfield, MA. The non-profit Groovesafe is beneficiary of the night’s fundraising efforts, through the Waterwheel Foundation.

    groovesafe dinner and a movie

    The July 24, 1993 show was an early popular tape to trade in the 90s, and the second performance for Phish at the venue, where they have to date performed 17 times to date. Featuring stand out versions of “Stash,” “Mike’s Song” and “Weekapaug Groove,” as well as the return of “The Mango Song” after a 150 show gap, the seamless segue from “2001” -> “Split Open and Melt” makes this well worth listening to on Phishtracks.com.

    Groovesafe is an initiative to stop unwanted touching and sexual assault at concerts. The mission of this nonprofit is to create a no tolerance environment with an emphasis on building a consent culture.  GrooveSafe focuses on educating bands, venues, and fans on tactics that aim to make the live music experience safer. Groovesafe’s longterm goals include educating people on how to respond to assault, how to take action as an active bystander, and tips on staying safe. 

    Watch an interview with Groovesafe founder Ashley Driscoll here.

    groovesafe dinner and a movie
    Summer 1993 Doniac Schvice

    Dave Seigal, executive chef of the Michelin-acclaimed Cull & Pistol Oyster Bar as well as its sister seafood emporium, the Lobster Place Seafood Market, are both located in the heart of NYC’s Chelsea Market. Dave has been a Phish fan since the early ‘90s and has graciously provided recipes for this month’s dinner: Steamed Mussels with Green Coconut Curry and a Thai Salad. Recipes can be found here.

    Tune in before the show at 6:30pm on the Relix Twitch channel for The Dude of Life Band, who will perform a free livestream on the The Relix Channel, live from Relix Studio.

    Dinner and a Movie airs on Tuesday, May 25 at 8:30 pm ET/5:30 pm PT via webcast.livephish.com.

    Phish – July 24, 1993 – Great Woods Center for the Performing Arts, Mansfield, MA

    Set 1: Llama, Horn, Nellie Kane > Divided Sky, Guelah Papyrus, Rift, Stash, The Mango Song > Bouncing Around the Room, The Squirming Coil

    Set 2: Also Sprach Zarathustra > Split Open and Melt, Fluffhead > Maze, Glide > Sparkle > Mike’s Song > Yerushalayim Shel Zahav > Weekapaug Groove, Purple Rain > Hold Your Head Up, Daniel Saw the Stone > Good Times Bad Times

    Encore: Golgi Apparatus, Free Bird

    This show saw the first Mango Song since May 17, 1992 (150 shows). Fish teased Bouncing Around the Room before Mango. Maze contained Also Sprach Zarathustra teases from Trey. Page teased Under the Boardwalk in Mike’s Song.

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